Nicosia, Mar 9 (PIO)
An American citizen of Greek-Cypriot origin, declared missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, has been confirmed dead.

According to press reports, the then sixteen-year-old Andreas Kassapis has been identified through DNA tests. He is one of five Greek Cypriots with American citizenship, missing since the Turkish invasion.

The US State Department's Special Co-ordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Miller, informed Kassapis' father Costas, now living in Detroit, of the confirmation of his son's death.

According to the same press reports, the boy's funeral will take place in Detroit, when his remains are delivered to his parents.

In statements to the "Proini" newspaper in New York, the President of the International Coordinating Committee-Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), Philip Christopher, has expressed his satisfaction from the development, as "over 23 years of suffering by the Costas Kassapis family was finally brought to closure".

The President of PSEKA also expresses the hope "that this case is just the first of many more to come" and points out that he is "encouraged by recent efforts to bring an end to this tragic humanitarian issue".